While its flavours are a work-in-progress, BKC’s new Indo-Western diner comforts you with pancakes and a hassle-free tablet menu after a stressful day at work

The American Joint Food: Good Service: EfficientAmbiance: Cosy

Thought it doesn’t serve alcohol and skips succulent steaks and hamburgers, The American Joint, a newly opened all-veggie diner at Bandra Kurla Complex makes for a relaxed post-work hangout, considering its generous portions and pocket-friendly prices. Little surprise then that we found four young professionals enjoying office gossip in between bites of burgers and fries when we visited the 30-seater space. A wall covered with roughly cut wooden tiles emanating a green glow matched the upholstery to resonate with the ‘organic cuisine’ that the diner claims to offer.

Falafalised Burger. Pics/Shadab Khan

Swipe rightWe quickly settled into a comfy sofa and browsed through the menu on a tablet. The limited spread included salads, a range of French Fries, burgers, a few Tex-Mex varieties and a couple of all-day breakfast options. While we would have loved to sip on a mocktail at least, it was disappointing that no cold beverages were on offer.

So, we added San Francisco Garlic Fries (Rs 110) to the cart and placed the order with trepidation, expecting a reconfirmation from the waiter. However, within 10 minutes, the dish arrived, leaving us impressed with the smooth, hassle-free ordering process. Tossed with Parmesan cheese and fresh garlic, the homemade variety, though uneven in shape and size, were crisp and light. Since the diner was out of ketchup, they served their signature Queso dip, a mayo-based Mexican variety that took the fries to another level.

Tablet menus are not new to Mumbai’s eateries; this one got our vote for it’s user-friendly interface and glitch-free experience

Tex-Mex tattleNext, we called for Tex Mex Taters (Rs 180). The bite-sized baby potato skin stuffed with pico de gallo arrived on a stone platter. While the salsa-spiced onion-tomato salad was packed with flavour, the skins were undercooked and chewy.

Falafalised Burger (Rs 275), a unique hybrid of falafel patties packed in buns, caught our eye and we added that to the cart next. Stuffed with a chunky chickpea-green peas patty, cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce, the burger was melt-in-the-mouth. We particularly loved the touch of feta and hummus instead of the regular mayo. This was the highlight of the meal.

Sunday Morning Pancakes

Delighted to learn that the diner served Sunday Morning Pancakes (Rs 175) at dinnertime as well, we called for the dish. Four pancakes stacked together, with a dollop of butter, accompanied by maple syrup and nutella, served again, on a stone platter. We would have preferred plates instead. Though a tad salty, the pancakes, when dipped in the chocolate-maple combination, made for a sweet end to a tough day at work.